William & Mary Conference and Dining feed quarantined students

Feeding students during a pandemic presents unique challenges – especially when some students are in quarantine on campus.

William & Mary Conference and Event Services and Dining Services are joining forces to ensure quarantined students receive safe, healthy, and fresh quality foods. Conference Services is managing the housing aspect while the dining team prepares and transports meals.

“Collaboration has been a key component of design when considering what was needed for quarantine and isolation housing,” said Mariellynn D. Maurer, Director, W&M Conference & Event Services. “Through continued conversations with campus partners, we’ve been able to roll out “Quarantine & Isolation” spins on programming. We wanted to find something that students here can experience daily – a virtual smore, a card from a Wellness Ambassador, Quarantine BINGO, a daily trivia bit – anything to help set one day apart from the other.”

Seven days a week, lunches are dropped off at 11 a.m. Dinner and breakfast for the next morning dropped off at 5 p.m. Dining services has a team of four that organize orders, prepare to-go bags and deliver them and they’re distributed by the Conference and Event staff.

“The entire team is focused on making the students happy and feeling safe,” said Catering Director Mark Florimonti, “The team is aware how essential food is to making this a more restful experience so we make sure that everything is delivered beyond expectations.”

Meals, distributed on-site by the Conference Services staff, include hot meals from the dining hall, re-heatable dishes to eat when convenient, and cold Simply To Go options.

The cold Simply To Go options are made on-campus daily. Breakfast can be anything from a parfait, fruit cup, bagel, crispy chicken biscuit, or sausage, egg, and cheese muffin. The Simply To Go meals include a variety of salads and sandwiches accompanied by healthy snacking items.

Hot meals are selected via ordering forms. Students may select any meal available at the Commons Dining Hall from the five stations which include Hometown, Grill, Wok, Pizza/Pasta, and allergen-friendly Simple Servings.

Order forms are attached to each bag, indicated students’ specific dietary needs and preferences.

Students can use an app called BiteU to review the menu, and allergen or nutritional information.

Students can also purchase items from an on-site pantry like snacks, personal hygiene products, and anything to which they may not otherwise have access.

William & Mary Dining Marketing Director Melissa Strain created online ordering forms to allow students to make their personalized selections and specify any dietary restrictions or allergies.

“I’m so proud of W&M Conference Services and Dining Services for their dedication to making students in quarantine feel as comfortable and safe as possible,” said Strain. “Use of the dining ordering form makes our process streamlined and personalized to each student, allowing students more flexibility in this unique situation.

Strain said the dining team is also assisting with providing food upbeat programming to break up the monotony of being in quarantine, like providing s’mores, popcorn for virtual movie nights, and special retail ordering days from locations like Chick-fil-A and Cosi.

“We make the best out of every situation we face together,” said Strain.